Govt plans uniform service structure for civil armed forces

Interior minister attends Frontier Constabulary passing-out parade

SHABQADAR: The government plans legislation to bring uniformity in the service structures of the civil armed forces, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday.

Addressing a Frontier Constabulary (FC) passing-out parade at the FC training centre in Shabqadar, Iqbal said a civil armed forces act would be introduced for the purpose. He said the constabulary had fought terrorists from Chitral to Karachi and the prevailing peace was due to the sacrifices rendered by its officers and personnel.



At a time when Pakistan was declared a dangerous country by international media, the FC and other civil and armed forces rendered great sacrifices for peace in the country, he said. Pakistan was progressing at a rapid pace because of their sacrifices, he added.

Talking to reporters after the event, the minister said personnel of the civil armed force were performing duties in all important places from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Karachi and Quetta and efforts were under way to provide them bullet-proof vehicles to save their lives in case of terrorist attacks.

Replying to a question, he said baseless rumours about the formation of a national unity government were being spread by pessimist elements.

Iqbal said China had come forward and announced its plan to spend $46 billion in Pakistan at a time when no one was ready to invest here and as a result the country’s image had changed and progress could be witnessed in all regions.



He said the government had introduced reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas after 70 years and large amounts were being allocated for the region’s development.

The interior minister said he had asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to study the possibility of holding matches in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta after the recent World XI tour to Lahore.

He refused to reply to a question about an alleged rift in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and corruption cases against its leaders.

On the occasion, 926 FC recruits participated in the passing-out parade.

Addressing them, FC Commandant Liaqat Ali khan said 356 officials of the force, including commandant Sifwat Ghayur, had embraced martyrdom and 560 had been injured while fighting terrorism.